TN can do more with organ donations

OUR VIEW

The story of Beverly Loyd, a Crossville, Tenn., woman who received a liver transplant earlier this year, has many things to tell us as Tennesseans as we head into the holiday that symbolizes generosity, hope and compassion.

Loyd, a former nurse who contracted hepatitis C during an emergency surgery more than 30 years ago nearly died last spring, not only because her own liver was failing, but because she was underinsured and because healthy organs available for transplant are in such tight supply.

That story appeared in this newspaper on Dec. 22 and raised several questions. We have heard much this year about the problems of being uninsured or underinsured. We should be talking more about organ donations - and why we don't participate.

As the story noted, only 35 percent of Tennesseans sign up to be organ donors when they apply for or renew their driver's license. This contributed to Loyd's predicament, as she became stuck between hospitals that compete for organs and the ability to perform transplants.

What seems to be a sensible and simple decision to save lives occurs far too seldom here. There may be a variety of reasons, but if you ask medical experts, you will find that there are many myths about organ donation that can get in the way of common sense.

As the Mayo Clinic notes, people wrongly assume:

? That if they are registered to donate and go into the hospital for urgent treatment, doctors will be less likely to work hard to save them.

? That organ donation is against their religion. Donation is consistent with tenets of Roman Catholicism, Islam, most branches of Judaism and most Protestant faiths.

? That you are too old or not healthy enough. In both cases, there are specific medical criteria that health professionals use to determine whether the organs are usable after your death - not before.

? That wealthy people can "buy" their way to the top of the transplant-recipient list. This is absolutely untrue.

Registering as an organ donor is one of the easiest ways that you can help a lot of people. Individual donors can help as many as 50 people who need organs, not to mention their loved ones who want them to stay around for a while.

This holiday, go to www.donatelifetn.org or call 877-552-5050, and keep the spirit of the season.